Page 18 of The Ever Legacy
“I’m tired of feeling like I have to choose sides or a path.” Ella shook her head with defeat.
“Who said you have to choose? Them?” He looked her deep in the eyes, into her soul. “Nobody gets to make your choices for you. If they can’t accept you the way you are, they weren’t meant to stay in your life. I know they’re family, but family should love you unconditionally.”
“The Ever family isn’t like other families. As the founding family of Everdale—” She stopped.
“That’s an excuse. That’stheirexcuse. When the original Ever family founded Everdale, they didn’t know how big the world was. They didn’t know that there were more types of magic out there. It’s the same way The Council was rebuilt after the truth about some of the others came out. Fuck, Ella, you’re a shifter too. So is your father, for that matter. The Evers aren’t the same, so they shouldn’t be putting this pressure on you.”
“They want me to choose. My mom’s coven or my dad’s pack, they both welcomed me, but they want me to choose which to be part of. That tears me up,” she admitted.
“So don’t choose.”
“What?”
“You’re both, and beautifully so. If they can’t accept you choosing yourself and to embrace both sides of you, they don’t deserve you.” His thumb ran down her neck, then he dropped his hands back down to hers. “You’re a fucking hybrid, Ella. They don’t get to make the rules for you, you do.”
He was right. She knew it. Part of the reason she wanted to join The Council was so she could make changes and protect the futures of others like her. Nobody should have to choose only part of themselves.
“You’re right. They can either accept that I want to be part of both, or I’ll find a different group.”
“We’ll start our own pack then.” He smiled. “One that is open to more than just shifters, but anyone in the supernatural community who needs a place to belong.”
“Really?” She loved the idea. Would he really do that with her?
“Hell yeah! My mate is a hybrid and I was meant to be an Alpha. The idea of running a pack together sounds amazing.” He smiled.
“Together or who is really in charge?” she teased.
“Together. We’re a team, princess.”
She groaned at the nickname, even though part of her was starting to love that he called her that. “Let’s do it, let’s start our own pack. Our own community.” She pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
“Okay. We’re late to our first class.” He grinned.
“You mean we’re late to our second class, we already missed the first one.” She glanced at the clock.
It should have been a big deal, it would have been a big deal. Under normal circumstances, they probably would have both had knocks on their doors. After claiming one another early in the morning, they snuck into Ella’s room since it was larger. She wanted him to know all of the secret passages, so they took the shortcut, it ended up taking longer as they stopped to connect in more ways than one.
They ended up missing the entire first day of classes. By now, news would have quickly spread across the castle that they were fated mates. It’s not like anyone had physically seen either of them in over twenty-four hours, they were choosing to be wrapped up in one another.
Ella sent out text messages to both Robert and Leslie, letting them know she was going to be occupied for a while. She ignored the messages and calls coming in from her parents.
“We’ll go to the afternoon classes.” She giggled. “After lunch.”
“So we have time to work up an appetite?” His gaze flickered to her lips and she nodded.
The world could wait a while longer for them to return. All Ella wanted right now was to lose herself in her mate’s embrace. She didn’t think she could ever get enough of him. She wanted to feel his hands and lips everywhere. To feel his heartbeat next to hers.
He leaned back as she moved to straddle him. Her sandy hair flowed down around them, like a curtain surrounding their faces. She leaned down close, brushing her lips over his. His hands moved to her hips, helping her rock against him, as if she couldn’t already feel his cock hardening against her.
She rolled back as she moved her lips to his neck, his ear, trailing wet kisses everywhere. Time seemed to stand still and speed up in an instant. Clothing was removed and lips were everywhere. Hands were everywhere.
Touch.
Everywhere.
He could be felt everywhere. Her skin tingled as her magic wrapped around them, it looped and knotted, pulling them closer and closer until she was surprised they weren’t one. Then she felt the bulge at her lower lips. His steely length sank into her, filling her up.
Their moans mingled as she felt him swell inside of her.
